"I told you it was absurd, didn't I?"
"You did--naturally," answered Sutherland.
"Well," I said, "I was wrong--it wasn't in the least natural for me to say that, and there's nothing absurd about it. It's been on my mind ever since. And now I see it wasn't absurd."
"What wasn't absurd?" asked Sutherland. "The idea of your licking Hutchings, or the idea of your licking me?"
"The idea of my licking you," I said firmly.
For a moment Sutherland was quite silent.
"D'you really think so?" he asked.
"Yes," I said. "After considering it quietly--in bed and in chapel and at many other times--I can't see anything absurd about it."
"In fact, Rice, you think you might have a chance against me?" suggested Sutherland.
"I don't say that it would be much of a chance," I told him. "Probably you'd do me, because you're a lot cleverer and more scientific; but when I said 'absurd,' I went too far."